Double Impatiens plant named ‘Didi Chered’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Double  Impatiens  plant named ‘Didi Chered’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and red-colored flowers that are fully double and positioned above and beyoud the foliage.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Didi Chered.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Didi Chered’.

The new Double Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Andijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new compact Double Impatiens cultivars with fully double flowers, freely branching and flowering habit, early flowering and attractive flower and foliage coloration.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in March, 2000, of a proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection identified as code number IDS-622-3, not patented, as the female, or seed parent, with a proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection identified as code number IDS-47-5, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The cultivar Didi Chered was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Andijk, The Netherlands in September, 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in Andijk, The Netherlands since September, 2000, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Didi Chered’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Didi Chered’ as a new and distinct Double Impatiens cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Red-colored flowers that are fully double and positioned         above and beyond the foliage.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than and not as         compact as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plant of the new Impatiens have fully double flowers whereas         plants of the female parent selection have semi-double flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have fully double flowers whereas         plants of the male parent selection have single flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have lighter red-colored flowers.

The new Impatiens can be compared to the Impatiens walleriana cultivar Salsa Red, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,606. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Salsa Red in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens were lighter green in         color than leaves of plants of the cultivar Salsa Red.     -   2. Flowers buds of plants of the new Impatiens were lighter in         color than flowers buds of plants of the cultivar Salsa Red.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens were brighter and         lighter in color than flowers of plants of the cultivar Salsa         Red.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a flowering plant of ‘Didi Chered’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘Didi Chered’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Didi Chered have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Gilroy, Calif., under commercial practice in a fiberglass-covered greenhouse during the late spring with day temperatures about 27 to 29° C., night temperatures about 16 to 18° C. and light levels about 2,000 foot-candles. Rooted young plants were planted in containers and had been growing for about five months when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Didi Chered. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection             identified as code number IDS-622-3, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection             identified as code number IDS-47-5, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 21 days at 22 to 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 28 days at 16 to             24° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Compact, upright, outwardly spreading             and mounded plant habit.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and freely-branching             growth habit with about eight basal branches; lateral             branches potentially forming at every node; dense and bushy             growth. Pinching enhances branching.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 45 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 23 cm. Diameter: About             1.2 cm. Internode length: About 3 cm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: 146B with splotches of 185B.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 4.5 cm. Width: About 3.3 cm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Crenate with sparse             ciliation. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing and             fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Darker than 147A.             Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B.             Venation, upper surface: 147A. Venation, lower surface:             147B. Petiole: Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Numerous and consistently double             flowers. Flower buds open similar to a rose in fullness;             flowers rounded in shape. Flowers arise from leaf axils.             Freely flowering, usually about 30 flowers and flower buds             per lateral branch. Flowers positioned above the foliage and             typically face upright or outward. Flowers last about five             to seven days under greenhouse conditions. Flowers not             persistent. Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering is continuous through             the spring and summer.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 4 cm. Depth: About 1.7 cm.         -   Flower buds (at stage of showing color).—Length: About             1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 54A.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About 40 per flower;             imbricate. Length, outermost petals: About 2 cm. Width,             outermost petals: About 2.3 cm. Length, innermost petals:             About 7 mm. Width, innermost petals: About 3 mm. Shape:             Obovate to cordate. Apex: Rounded or slightly emarginate.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Brighter than 53A. When opening, lower surface:             54A. Fully opened, upper surface: Lighter than 53A. Fully             opened, lower surface: 54A to 54B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five in a single whorl; one             modified into an elongated spur. Calyx length: About 1 cm.             Calyx diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.             Spur length: About 3 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 2             mm; at apex, less than 1 mm. Spur color: 199C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: 145B.         -   Reproductive organs.—None observed.         -   Seed/fruit.—None observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plant named ‘Didi Chered’, as illustrated and described. 